"Nonsense," said Felicity. "She would not have gone willingly. She is determined to marry St. Justin, even if he has been exhibiting her to Society as if she were an exotic pet."
Gideon scowled at Felicity. "An exotic pet? What the devil is this talk of a pet?"
Effie turned to Felicity before the girl could answer. "She is with Lady Youngstreet, Felicity. And while Lady Youngstreet is known for her eccentricities, I have never heard of her kidnapping anyone."
Gideon held up a hand. "I would like a clear and succinct explanation, if you please I think you had better go first, Miss Pomeroy."
"There is no use pretending or trying to put a polite face on it." Felicity looked straight at Gideon. "I believe Harriet has been kidnapped by certain overzealous members of the Fossils and Antiquities Society."
"Good God," Gideon muttered. His mind instantly conjured up an image of the worshipful glances he had caught Applegate giving Harriet. How many others in the Society had succumbed to her charms? he wondered. "What makes you think that bunch has made off with her?"
Felicity gazed at him intently. "Harriet went to a meeting of the Society this afternoon. A short while ago we had a note from her telling us that some friends were taking her to visit a gentleman who collects fossil teeth, but I have reason to believe that was not the truth."
Gideon ignored Effie, who was muttering something about not being absolutely certain of events. He concentrated on Felicity. "What makes you believe Harriet is not off somewhere viewing fossil teeth, Miss Pomeroy?"
"I questioned the young footman who brought us the note. He said Harriet, Lady Youngstreet, Lord Fry, and Lord Applegate had all gotten into Lady Youngstreet's traveling coach, not her Town carriage. Furthermore, when I made further inquiries, I learned that several bags were put aboard the coach before it left."
Gideon's hand tightened into a fist. He forced himself to relax his fingers one by one. "I see. What makes you suspect Gretna Green?"
Felicity's lovely mouth tightened grimly. "Aunt Effie and I have just come from Lady Youngstreet's house. We questioned her butler and a couple of the maids. The coachman apparently confided to one of the maids shortly before he left that he had been instructed to prepare for a very fast trip to the north."
Effie sighed. "The fact that Lord Applegate has been muttering a great deal lately about saving my niece from marriage to you, sir, makes us suspect that he may have decided to take matters into his own hands. Lady Youngstreet and Lord Fry have apparently assisted him in doing so."
Gideon's insides were turning to ice. "I did not realize Applegate was worrying about saving my fiancée."
"Well, he would hardly mention the notion in your presence, my lord," Felicity said matter-of-factly. "But the truth is, he has talked enough about saving Harriet for the matter to have become the subject of a great deal of gossip."
"I see." Gossip that had not been repeated to him, Gideon realized. He looked at Effie. "I find it interesting that you have come directly to me, Mrs. Ashecombe. May I conclude from this that you would rather your niece married me than Applegate?"
"Not particularly," Effie said bluntly. "But it is too late to have it otherwise. This crazed notion of a runaway marriage to Applegate is going to cause even more of a scandalbroth than we are already dealing with now."
"So I am the lesser of two evils," Gideon observed.
"Precisely, sir."
"How nice to know my offer of marriage is favored on such practical grounds."
Effie's eyes narrowed slightly. "The situation is worse than you know, St. Justin. Rumors of the night you and Harriet spent in that dreadful cave may have reached Town. I got the barest hint of it last night at the Wraxham soiree. In addition to all the other gossip, people may soon be wondering if Harriet was, indeed, compromised by you. Her reputation cannot withstand this kidnapping affair."
"It would be one thing if we actually thought Harriet would marry Applegate," Felicity explained pragmatically.
"Ah, yes. Indeed it would." Gideon's fingers clamped around the small figure of a bird that sat on his desk.
"However," Felicity continued, "we know that even if they get her to Gretna Green, Harriet will not marry Applegate."
Gideon ran his thumb along the bird's wing. "You do not believe so?"
"She considers herself committed to you, my lord. Harriet would never break a commitment of that nature. When they all return from the north with Harriet not wed to Applegate, the tale will be all over Town. We are already dealing with quite enough speculation on your forthcoming marriage to my sister as it is."
Effie groaned. "They will all say poor Harriet tried to escape the clutches of the Beast of Blackthorne Hall by running away to Gretna Green and that when she got there Applegate changed his mind. The dear girl will be ruined twice."
Gideon got to his feet and pulled the bell cord to summon his butler. "You are quite right, both of you. There is already enough talk. I shall deal with this matter immediately."
Felicity glanced toward the door as Owl opened it. Then she looked back at Gideon. "You are going after them, my lord?"
"Of course. If, as you say, they have taken Lady Youngstreet's ancient traveling coach, you may rest assured I will overtake them in a short while. That carnage of hers is at least twenty years old. Very heavy and badly sprung. And her animals are almost as old as her coach. They will not be able to make good time."
"Yes, my lord?" Owl inquired in his graveyard tones.
"Order the phaeton horsed with Cyclops and Minotaur and brought around immediately, Owl," Gideon said.
"Very good, my lord. Not a pleasant evening for driving, if I may say so, sir. I feel there may be a storm on the way."
"I will take my chances, Owl. Kindly do not delay relaying my orders."
"As you wish, sir. Never say I did not warn you." Owl withdrew, shutting the door softly behind him.
"Well, then." Effie got to her feet and retied the strings of her bonnet. "I suppose we had best be off, Felicity. We have done all we can."
"Yes, Aunt Effie." Felicity stood up and gave Gideon a sharp look. "My lord, if you do catch up with them—"
"I will most certainly catch up with them, Miss Pomeroy."
She studied his expression for a few seconds and then drew a deep breath. "Yes, well, when you do, sir, I trust you will not be unpleasant to my sister. I am certain she will have a satisfactory explanation for this affair."
"She will no doubt have an explanation." Gideon strode to the door and opened it for the women. "Harriet is never short of explanations. Whether or not it will be a satisfactory one is another matter."
Felicity frowned. "Sir, you must give me your word you will not be harsh with her. I would not have insisted on coming here to tell you what has occurred if I had thought you would be angry with her."
Impatience flared in Gideon at the sight of the concern in Felicity's eyes. "Do not trouble yourself, Miss Pomeroy. Your sister and I understand each other very well."
"That is what she keeps saying," Felicity murmured as she followed her aunt out the door. "I trust you are both correct."
"By the bye," Gideon said as Felicity and Effie stepped out into the hall. "Pack a bag for my fiancée as soon as you return home. I shall stop for it on my way out of Town."
Effie looked suddenly wary. "You do not believe you will be able to return her safely to us before dawn?"
It was Felicity who responded to that. "Of course he will not return her to us this evening, Aunt Effie. Who knows how far Harriet and her friends will have gotten on the road north? In any event, I expect that the next time we see Harriet, she will be a married woman. Is that not right, my lord?"